Improvement in wick-adjusters for lamps



1v1-TEE ,STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEs L. HOWARD, MCE. HARTECD, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoE To JAMEs L. 1fHowAnDaCo., oE SAME PLACE.

IMPRovEMENT--lN-wIcK-ACJUSTERS FOR LAMPS.

Specicati'ou forming part of Letters PatentNo. 183,057, dated October10, 1876; application filed september 14, 1876.

Tov all whom it mag/concern Be it known that I, JAMES L. HOWARD, of thecity and countyo'fHartford, and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a newand useful Improvement in Center Lamps for Railroad- Cars, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which my improved lamp isrepresented by a central section.

The nature of my invention consists in an improvement in thatdescription of device which has a shaft extended down through the bodyof the oil-reservoir, and on which shaft there is an operating button orthumb-head below the foot of the lamp, by turning which the flame of thelamp may be regulated with out taking the globe or the lamp from theirbearings, my said improvement greatly simplifying such adjusting device,and rendering the same more eifective and less liable to get out oforder.

In the accompanying drawingsI have shown a central support for acar-lamp reservoir, which may be constructed as follows: A represents anumber of bracket-arms fastened to the ceiling of a car, and havingtheir lower ends attached to an annular bearing, B, in and by which thebody C of a lamp is supported. The means for securing the lampreservoirC to the said bearings B may be of any suitable construction. Thebearing B is at the top provided with a Haring rim, D,

which fits around the lower part e of the glass globe E, and keeps itsteady. Above the lamp C is the reflector F, fastened to the ceiling ofthe car, and provided with a central tube, Gr, into which a spiralspring, H, is inserted. An inner tube, I, is placed into the tube G, sothat the said two tubes have the spring H between them. The upper end ofthe spring H rests against a top ange, g, of the tube G, and the lowerend of the said spring rests upon a bottom flange, t', of the movabletube I. The lower end of the tube I is provided with a aring socket,.l,which iits and bears upon the upper part of the glass globe E by meansof the spring H, whereby the globe is securely held between itsbearings.

The parts described form no part of my invention, the novel featurestherein being invented and claimed by Frank L. Howard and Charles P.Howard, ot' Hartford, Connecticut, and the description of the said partsis merely for the purpose of illustrating my invention in connectionwith a center globe-lamp for a car. I therefore do not claim any of thesaid parts separately nor in combination with my invention.

The reservoir C is provided with a wick tube or tubes, J, andspur-wheels J upona shaft, j, for raising the wick, as shown in thedrawings, partly by dotted lines. The horizontal shaft j of one of thesewheels is seen in the drawings projecting out beyond its bearings uponthe wick-tube, and is at its end provided with a bevel-gear, K. Anotherbevel-gear, K', on an inclined shaft, k, gears into the bevel-gear K.The said bevel-gears are made ofthe same or about the same size, andthey may be made ot' sheet metal stamped into shape between dies, andthus a very cheap wick-adjuster produced. The shaft k is inserted in atube, L, which is fastened in the reservoir so that its lower opening isconcentric withthe foot c ofthe reservoir, and there the shaft k isprovided with a button or knob, M, of spherical shape, which, althoughon an inclined shaft, always presents a central appearance, whereby thesymmetry of the lamp is not marred, as would be the case with thumbheadsof different shape. The tube L extends above the reservoir, but notquite up to the wheel K', thus making an allowance for lon gigitudinalplay for the shaft k, whereby the bevel-wheel K' may be moved into gearwith the bevel-wheel K, or out of gear with it, so that the gear K willclear the gear K' when the burner is unscrewed. A spring, l', on thetube L serves to keep the wheel K in gear with its fellow. The frictionbetween the knob M and the lower end of the tube L, caused by the springl', serves to prevent casual turning of the shaft k.

Operation: 'Ihe lamp is removed from its bearings and the wicks areignited. The operator, after adjusting the wicks to about the properheight, secures the lamp in its seat, and while the flame is assumingits full proportions, regulates the same by turning the knob M leitherback or forward until the flame has assumed its proper dimensions.

In case of Wicks becoming permanently clogged the parts for moving thewicks are, with ordinary lamp-adjusters, in danger of being overstrainedand made unt for further use, but with my construction any such. strainrange of the wheel K. It is seen that the sep-- aration or connectionbetween the knob M and the spur-Wheels J' may be effected immediately.

I am aware that lamp-wicks fare operated.

by central knobs under the reservoir; but the connections 1n such casesare rigid, and the transmission of motion is exceedingly slow, so

as to rendertheirioperation tedious and slow, and the nicety requiredlgntthe fit between, the parts is such as to make the adjusters verycostly. Such nice fitting of parts is wholly avoided in my adjuster, byreason of the spring l' serving to keep the bevel-wheels in propergeanin g position.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

They combination .of the wheel K, shaft j, carrying spur-wheels, wheelK', the spring l, the tube L, and the shaft 7c, substantially as setforth.

Witness my hand in the matter of my application for a patent on acenter-lamp for railroad-cars this 31st day of August, 1876.

JAM-ES L.. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

ALBERT L.- BURKE, GEORGE O. BARNES.

